Abstract: Against the backdrop of intensifying global technological competition and heightened geopolitical sensitivity, the integrated circuit (IC) industry has become a strategic cornerstone of national economic security and technological sovereignty. Its characteristics (high cumulative technological intensity, strong path dependence, and whole-of-chain coordination) together with external technological embargoes, incumbent lock-in, and an oligopolistic market structure, make it difficult for latecomer economies to enter global markets through low-cost competition or single-point breakthroughs. Drawing on Neo-Schumpeterian theory and an innovation-ecosystem analytical framework ,this paper first provides a systematic assessment of the current status of China’s IC industry, its structural bottlenecks, and the stage-specific strategic objectives of latecomer catch-up; second, it employs a comparative case approach to trace the differentiated pathways taken by Japan, Korea, et al.in building chip development platforms, accumulating technological experience, and organizing innovation. The findings indicate that catch-up in the IC industry is not a linear process of imitation but involves stage-wise, nonlinear transitions shaped by technological evolution, market-entry conditions, and the institutional environment. Finally,the paper proposes three feasible pathways for China to move from “following” to “catching up”:1) technology breakthroughs centered on autonomous control of critical links in the value chain; 2) differentiated competition oriented toward niche segments and system-level solutions; 3) innovation-ecosystem building supported by robust institutional foundations and organizational capabilities.

Key words: Integrated Circuit; Innovation Strategy; Catching-up; Innovation Ecosystem; IC